MIAMI-DADE COUNTY—Registration for the 2024 Florida Python Challenge is now open, according to the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC.)
Online training is required to compete in the 10-day competition that is scheduled for Aug. 9 -18 and more than $25,000 in prizes will be awarded for removing invasive Burmese pythons from the wild. Prizes will be awarded in the professional, novice and military categories, courtesy of sponsors and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. In 2023, 209 Burmese pythons were removed from the Everglades, FWC said.
In addition to python removal opportunities on 32 commission-managed lands which are available year-round, pythons can be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission — no permit or hunting license required — and the FWC encourages people to remove and humanely kill pythons from private lands whenever possible.
For more information, and to register, visit https://flpythonchallenge.org/